New legislation introduced by Senator Scott Wiener would facilitate building homes near public transit stops and generate climate-friendly impacts and more affordability.
Greenbelt Alliance is excited to co-sponsor Senate Bill (SB) 79, the Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, an impactful new piece of legislation that, if passed into law, will make it easier and faster to build new homes around public transit stops like train, subway, and light rail stations.
We’re joining author Senator Scott Wiener to support this crucial policy alongside California YIMBY, SPUR, Streets for All, and the Bay Area Council. The new piece of legislation was announced at a press conference on Friday, March 14, at the Daly City BART station.
Why It Matters?
More homes near transit means shorter commutes, less traffic congestion, more time for family, and greater access to jobs, education, and essential services.
For far too long, California has embraced development patterns that have harmed our communities and environment. Making it difficult to build in our existing cities and towns has pushed development further out—paving over critical wildlife habitat and productive farmland and worsening the affordability crisis in California.
“This reduces the benefits to clean air and water that our open spaces provide and means dramatic increases in GHG emissions from super-commutes, as well as putting people directly in harm’s way—in areas with severe climate hazards like wildfires, floods, and extreme heat,” explained State and Regional Resilience Manager Jordan Grimes. “SB 79 will make it easier and faster to build new housing around transit in our existing communities, helping to reverse those trends and create a more affordable and resilient California,” Grimes concluded.
What the Bill Does
Upzoning: SB 79 offers a major opportunity to shift these patterns by focusing new housing growth in the places where it makes the most sense: near transit hubs. The bill establishes a tiered zoning system that allows for increased heights and densities around transit stations, while considering the capacity and local context of the system itself. For example, systems with more robust and frequent service will receive greater increases, while lower capacity systems will receive smaller ones. By enabling more people to live close to transit, it’s possible to reduce car dependence and vehicle miles travelled (VMT), cut greenhouse gas emissions, and make communities more walkable and vibrant.
Streamlining: The bill will expedite the construction of new homes in these areas. Projects within SB 79 zones will qualify for permit streamlining, eliminating unnecessary delays and ensuring that homes get built faster. This means that critical new housing opportunities won’t be held back by local roadblocks, helping California meet its urgent housing needs.
Transit Agency Authority: Finally, SB 79 gives transit agencies the authority over the zoning of land under their ownership, allowing them to better utilize their properties to support both ridership and revenue at a time when agencies across the state are struggling financially. By enabling transit agencies to directly facilitate housing development, we can create more vibrant, walkable, and transit-oriented communities while ensuring the long-term viability of our public transportation systems.
As California grapples with overlapping crises—housing shortages, climate change, and struggling transit agencies—it is urgent that we pursue solutions that address these challenges holistically. SB 79 represents a forward-thinking approach that will create lasting positive change for residents across the state.
